OCEAN GARBAGE UPDATE

Ocean Waste

In our November 2016 Newsletter, we posted an article that contained
information about the dilemma of plastic waste in our oceans:

Approximately 50% of plastic waste ends up in
landfills where it will sit for hundreds of years because there is limited
oxygen and a lack of microorganisms to break it down. The remaining percentage
of plastic goes into the environment and is ultimately washed out to sea.

The plastic that eventually reaches our oceans does
not disintegrate into organic substances such as natural substances do. The
particles just keep getting smaller and smaller. Eventually they become as
small as the algae and plankton that are the basis for the marine food system.
Shrimp, birds, and fish consume these particles and it can kill them. Then the
chemicals in these plastic pieces can be absorbed by their predators which can
ultimately be passed on to humans.

Ocean gyres are large circular current areas formed
by global wind patterns and ocean currents. Debris, made up mostly of small
particles of plastic, is drawn into these areas by the circular motion of the
gyre. When the debris eventually makes its way to the center of the gyre, it
becomes trapped and breaks down into a plastic soup. These are called ‘garbage
patches’ and have become a major concern for oceanographers and ecologists.

According to the Nation Geographic, the Indian Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, and North Pacific Ocean
all have significant garbage patches. The garbage patch in the North Pacific
Ocean between Hawaii and California is sometimes called the Pacific trash
vortex or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
could be called the largest ‘landfill’ in the world!

ONE YOUNG MAN IS PLANNING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Boyan Slat

Boyan Slat was a 17 year old Dutch high school student when
he went on a diving trip to Greece. As he entered the ocean and became totally
surrounded by plastic waste, he had an epiphany. He realized this plastic waste
in the ocean would be one of biggest environmental issue problems his
generation will have to face.

Boyan knew about garbage patches and he thought the problem
was being worked on. But after his Greece trip he decided to do some research
and found that most of the solutions that had been presented were ineffective.
So this amazing young man, decided to put his social and educational life on
hold and focus his entire time on working out a solution, even though it seemed
the odds might be against him.

Now, just 6 years later, with donations primarily from private sources
totally millions, the 22 year old is ready to launch the first phase of his
invention in early 2018. He estimates his design solution will be able to collect
about 50 percent of the plastic in the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch in just five years!

BOYAN SLAT'S INVENTION

His design utilizes massive floating booms that sit on top
of the water. They actually act like a mini-coastline. In the same way our
beaches collect plastic waste, the boom gathers the waste and pulls it to its
center. A boat will be sent to the area about once a month to collect the
garbage.

The booms will not be attached to the ocean floor (savings millions of dollars) but will be
suspended in the ocean and attached to anchors that will float deep down below,
allowing the booms to move slowly around. They will be held in place for the
most part by deep water tides. Whatever forces move the plastic around will also
move the cleanup systems around making them very much like plastic magnets.

Slat’s design is solar-powered, modular, and flexible enough
to move with the tides. He is planning to have up to 50 devices ready, 0.6
miles each. If one device should break down, there would still be 49 others
continuing to operate. One of his devices will be tested later this year as the first stage of his design is put into place.

WHY SLAT BELIEVES THE CLEANUP MUST START NOW

Right now, only 3% of the plastics in the garbage patch have
become microplastics. Most are still large enough to easily fish out. In a few
decades, the large objects will start breaking down into small and
dangerous microplastics if cleanup does not proceed.

WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE COLLECTED PLASTIC WASTE?

The plastic can be recycled in an array of products such as phones,
chairs, sunglasses, car bumpers, etc, and the money can be used to further fund the cleanup
operation.

PLEASE WATCH THE FASCINATING VIDEO BELOW FOR SLAT'S PRESENTATION

Boyan Slat is an incredible young genius. Most amazing is the majority
of the money for his project has been raised from private sources.

His idea
uses the concept that instead of going out and trying to remove all the plastic
from the oceans with boats and nets (taking billions of dollars and thousands
of years), why not use the natural forces of the ocean to bring the plastic to us.

BOYAN SLAT'S AWARDS

Youngest-ever recipient of the UN's highest environmental accolade: Champion of the Earth.

Awarded the maritime industry of Norway's Young Entrepreneur Award in 2015.

WHAT SCIENTIFIC CRITICS SAY

Critics say Slat's method will not do enough and could be a
distraction from the real problem, the amount of plastic waste that enters the
oceans. If plastic waste can be reduced, they say, the problem will take care of itself in
years to come.

Slat is not affected by the criticism. Time will tell if his
design will do what it is supposed to do. We will keep you updated.